Despite the Supreme Court order, MNS workers put up a Dahi Handi at more than double the permissible height in Thane.

Dahi Handi celebration in Thane, where MNS workers violated SC order by stringing up the earthen pot over 40 feet above the ground.

HIGHLIGHTS

SC order was flouted in Thane during Dahi Handi celebrations.

MNS workers strung up Dahi Handi at over 40 feet height.

The Supreme Court had limited the height of Dahi Handi at 20 feet.

Defying the Supreme Court's order, the MNS workers on Thursday morning strung up a Dahi Handi over 40 feet high from the ground. The Supreme Court on Wednesday had refused to increase the maximum permissible height of Dahi Handi above 20 feet, holding the Bombay High Court's decision in the matter.

But, the apex court order was not a detriment for the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of Raj Thackeray. An MNS worker, identified as Avinash Jadhav organized a Dahi Handi competition at Thane and strung up the earthen pot at 49 feet, more than double the permissible height. Jadhav sported a T-shirt, that said, "Hoye me kayada modnaar (I will break the law)".

MNS worker, Avinash Jadhav sporting a T-shirt saying,

RAJ THACKERAY GAVE THE CUE?

The Thane incident made it clear that the MNS workers didn't take the SC order seriously. For them, orders come only from their boss, Raj Thackeray.

Soon after the court order, Raj Thackeray had told his party workers that the Dahi Handi, celebrated on the occasion of Janmashtami, would be organised "the way it is meant to be". The party workers took the hint as a go ahead to violate the SC order.

Govindas forming human pyramid as part of Dahi Handi celebrations in Thane.

In its order, the SC also prohibited participation of children below 18 years of age. But, as the Govindas attempted to break the earthen pot by building human pyramids at various places, groups of minors were also seen among the competitors.

WHAT DID THE SC SAY?

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a plea challenging the Bombay High Court order restricting the height of Dahi Handi to 20 feet from the ground. "To increase the height is very scary. Are you getting an Olympic medal also for this? Then we will be happy," the apex court had observed.

The Bombay High Court order on April 11, 2014, had come in response to a PIL filed by social activist Swati S. Patil's Utkarsh Mahila Samajik
Sanstha citing hundreds of injuries, some permanent, and deaths, of
Govindas when the human pyramids came crashing down.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THANE?

After getting a kind of green signal from his party chief, Avinash Jadhav, one of the organizers of the competition, attempted to create a new world record for the highest Dahi Handi. He got it strung up at 49 feet to break the previous record of 43 feet by a Mumbai-based group, which found its entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Several other Dahi Handis were placed above 20 feet high, some going up to 35 feet above the ground.

Human pyramid in Thane.

PROTEST AGAINST COURT ORDER

Several organisations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai celebrated the Dahi Handi ritual on Janmashtami with protests, black bands and black flags. Politically-backed organisations of the estimated 1,500-plus groups, who conduct the event flouted the apex court order.

While one Dadar organisation built a 'horizontal' pyramid on the ground and then broke the pot at a height of more than 30 feet, but the Govinda climbed a ladder to break it. The participants of some organisations sported black shorts and arm-bands to protest the apex court ruling and after breaking the Dahi Handi, the topmost Govinda waved a black flag.

POLICE PROMISE ACTION

Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Ashok Dudhe said that the police were photographing and videographing the celebrations across the city. "All those found flouting the Supreme Court norms shall be prosecuted depending on the kind of violations," Dudhe warned, though police have not directly intervened to stop the celebrations.

Police have sent notices to Dahi Handi organisers for violating the Supreme Court order. Thane Police sent the notice after watching the video footage of the event. Police notice referred to violation of maximum permissible height norm for Dahi Handi and participation of minors in attempt to break the earthen pot.

THE RISK FACTOR

Activists have campaigned against the way Dahi Handi has been celebrated in various parts of Maharashtra. Many people including minors have got injured or even killed after falling off the human pyramid.

Last year itself, about 300 people were injured and one person was killed during the Dahi Handi celebrations in the state. This led to a PIL in the Bombay High Court, which put certain restrictions for celebrating Dahi Handi.